[The Return of the AI Artist] ① In Just 3 Minutes..."Worried About Losing My Job"

After the Advent of AI, the Survival Story of Korean Illustrators
Low-Cost Competition with AI-Generated Images Becomes Reality
Trust Undermined by AI Works "Pretending to Be Human"

Editor's NoteWe are now in an era where ChatGPT can replicate even the style of Studio Ghibli animation from Japan. The illustration industry has suddenly become the front line of an "industry transformed by AI." Through the daily changes experienced by illustrators facing off against AI, this article offers a preview of the world of jobs that AI may soon replace?a reality that could affect us all.

Ryu Mo, a 32-year-old freelancer who produces promotional videos for companies on commission, is a master of rough sketches. Each time he moves his digital pen across the white tablet screen, people, buildings, and cities gradually take shape. Based on Ryu's sketches, other freelancers on his team determine the backgrounds and character compositions for the videos. In this sense, Ryu's drawings are the starting point and foundation for all content. Every stroke of his pen is infused with countless considerations.

A scene of Ryu, an expert in storyboards (rough sketches) for animation and video content, at work. Photo by Lim Juhyung

After immersing himself for about two hours, Ryu finally completed a storyboard?a rough sketch that establishes the overall concept of a project. Even within the industry, this is considered a fast pace. However, when he uploaded this storyboard to ChatGPT and requested, "Please draw another image in a similar style," a convincing illustration appeared on the screen in just three minutes.

"Of course, this image can't actually be used for real work. To the untrained eye, it might look similar, but for professionals, there are many rough edges. The problem is that AI has changed clients' perceptions. Now, when setting a project schedule, clients are the first to say, 'AI can draw it quickly?can't you shorten the timeline?' We've ended up racing against AI."

Ryu, who works as part of a team with like-minded freelancers, says, "I'm actually in a relatively good position." Since rough sketches are just one part of corporate promotional video production, even if AI replaces his work, he can be assigned to other tasks. He added, "The people who are truly feeling anxious right now are pure illustrators who have relied solely on their drawing skills to make a living."

The Unwelcome Guest in the Industry: Generative AI

The domestic art market where illustrators can work is largely divided into two segments: the commercial market, where contracts are secured from companies or government agencies, and the so-called "commission" market, where individuals commission artists to create artwork for hobby or personal collection purposes.

The left side shows the sketch that Mr. Ryu worked on for several hours. The right side is the image generated by ChatGPT in just three minutes after recognizing Mr. Ryu's drawing.

The commercial market offers higher fees but involves more team-based work and fierce competition, making it difficult for ordinary illustrators to find opportunities. As a result, most illustrators today take on hobby commissions in the commission market. Although the fees are not high?typically around 100,000 to 200,000 won?it was enough to make a living. However, as generative AI has infiltrated the art market, illustrators now find themselves in direct competition with AI artists.

H, a commission illustrator with five years of experience working under a pseudonym, explained that AI-generated artwork began to appear noticeably in the commission market in the early 2020s. He said, "If you think about it logically, who wouldn't be tempted if they could get artwork with a certain guaranteed quality for free?" He added, "It's not that I can't understand why AI-generated art is penetrating the commission market."

H stated that the commission market, already saturated due to excessive competition, is collapsing with the advent of AI. He said, "There are more academies producing illustrators, and there are countless online video tutorials accessible to anyone. With just a little effort, anyone can reach a certain skill level," and continued, "Commission illustrators who relied on this work for a living have gradually lowered their fees to stay competitive, but with the arrival of AI, the market has been completely destroyed."

AI Creates Cracks in Market Trust

The impact of AI on the illustration industry goes beyond fee competition. As it becomes increasingly difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish between works created by human experts and those by AI, there has been a rise in cases where AI-generated images are passed off as the work of illustrators and sold at high prices. As fraudulent transactions increase, trust between clients and illustrators in the commission market is also being shaken.

H said, "Some clients who commission work suspect that pieces created by professionals are actually AI-generated and post accusatory messages in online communities, or illustrators are often forced to explain themselves," adding, "This happens more frequently as more cases emerge of people being caught selling AI-generated work as their own and having to post apologies." He continued, "Overall, the damages caused by the rise of AI have increased. Being suspected by clients and having to explain myself every time is a real burden for commission illustrators who rely on this work for a living."

H, who entered the industry simply because of a love for drawing, is now trying to steel himself to survive as a professional in an increasingly harsh market shaped by the advent of AI.

"There is always a limited amount of work, but the number of people (or AIs) who draw is increasing rapidly. Even when I get an order, I can't help but feel anxious. With AI destroying the market, I live with the constant fear that I may not be able to continue this work someday."